Microsoft officially unveiled Copilot Tasks, a major evolution of its AI assistant that shifts it from a conversational chatbot to an autonomous execution engine.
Marketed as a “to-do list that does itself,” Copilot Tasks allows you to describe a complex goal in natural language, which the AI then breaks down into a step-by-step plan and executes across various apps and web services in the background.
Key Features: The “Do” Engine
Unlike standard Copilot, which helps you draft or summarize, Copilot Tasks operates with its own virtual “computer and browser” to perform multi-step workflows.
- Recurring Automations: You can schedule Copilot to perform “Monday Morning Briefings,” where it analyzes your calendar, surfaces urgent emails, and drafts replies before you even log in.
- Document Transformation: It can turn a syllabus into a full study plan (with practice tests and focus blocks) or compile your recent emails and attachments into a polished PowerPoint deck.
- Real-World Logistics: Tasks can monitor used car listings 24/7, contact dealerships to book test drives, find and book plumbers by comparing quotes, or monitor hotel rates and automatically re-book when the price drops.
- Proactive “Unsubscribe”: It can scan your mailbox for promotional mail you never open and automatically unsubscribe from it on your behalf.
Security & “Human-in-the-Loop”
Microsoft has emphasized a “Consent First” architecture for this autonomous tool:
- Authorization Gates: For meaningful actions—such as spending money or sending messages to others—Copilot Tasks will pause and ask for your explicit approval.
- Governance: The tool inherits all existing Microsoft 365 permissions and sensitivity labels, ensuring it only accesses data you are authorized to see.
- Audit Trail: You can monitor, pause, or cancel any running AI task at any time through a new centralized “Tasks Dashboard.”
Availability & Rollout
| Status | Details |
| Phase 1 (Current) | Limited Research Preview started on Feb 26, 2026. |
| Waitlist | A public waitlist is now open for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. |
| Broad Access | Expected to roll out to Copilot Pro and Business users in the “coming weeks.” |
| Integration | Will be baked into Windows 11 File Explorer, Outlook, and Teams. |
The “Agentic” Shift
This launch places Microsoft in direct competition with other “AI Agent” platforms released this month, such as Perplexity Computer, Gemini Agent on Android, and Claude Code. While those tools are often focused on web research or coding, Microsoft’s advantage is its deep integration into the enterprise data (emails, files, and calendars) that people use for their daily work.
